Accelerator mass spectrometry of Strontium-90 for homeland security, environmental monitoring, and human health

Journal Article · Mon Mar 03 00:00:00 EST 2008 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B: Beam Interactions with Material and Atoms, vol. 266, N/A, May 30, 2008, pp. 2242-2245

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2008.03.088· OSTI ID:945145

Tumey, S J; Brown, T A; Hamilton, T F; Hillegonds, D J

Strontium-90 is one of the most hazardous materials managed by agencies charged with protecting the public from radiation. Traditional radiometric methods have been limited by low sample throughput and slow turnaround times. Mass spectrometry offers the advantage of shorter analysis times and the ability to measure samples immediately after processing, however conventional mass spectrometric techniques are susceptible to molecular isobaric interferences that limit their overall sensitivity. In contrast, accelerator mass spectrometry is insensitive to molecular interferences and we have therefore begun developing a method for determination of {sup 90}Sr by accelerator mass spectrometry. Despite a pervasive interference from {sup 90}Zr, our initial development has yielded an instrumental background of {approx} 10{sup 8} atoms (75 mBq) per sample. Further refinement of our system (e.g., redesign of our detector, use of alternative target materials) is expected to push the background below 10{sup 6} atoms, close to the theoretical limit for AMS. Once we have refined our system and developed suitable sample preparation protocols, we will utilize our capability in applications to homeland security, environmental monitoring, and human health.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 945145
• Report Number(s): LLNL-JRNL-402381; TRN: US0900768
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B: Beam Interactions with Material and Atoms, vol. 266, N/A, May 30, 2008, pp. 2242-2245, Vol. 266
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOCIMETRY
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCELERATORS
ATOMS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MONITORING
PROCESSING
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SECURITY
SENSITIVITY
STRONTIUM 90
TARGETS